title: Overexpression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase promotes the motility and invasiveness of HepG2 cells in vitro.
abstract: Recent studies have indicated that telomerase activity promotes cancer invasion and metastasis, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Several studies have shown that expression of exogenous human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) can promote motility and invasiveness among telomerase-negative tumor cells, and inhibition of endogenous telomerase activity can reduce invasiveness in tumor cells. However, whether overexpression of hTERT can further enhance the motility and invasiveness of telomerase‑positive tumor cells has yet to be determined. In the present study, we showed that stable overexpression of hTERT can increase telomerase activity and telomere length, which significantly promotes the invasive and metastatic potential of telomerase‑positive HepG2 cells but does not affect cell proliferation. Further analysis suggested that enhanced invasiveness and metastasis may act through corresponding upregulation of mRNA and protein expression of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) and Ras homolog gene family member C (RhoC). Our study indicated that exogenous expression of hTERT may promote invasiveness and metastasis through upregulation of MMP9 and RhoC.
authors.affiliation: Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing 100044, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Peng-Cheng
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ji-Run
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Wen-Xia
authors.initials: WX
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Wen-Zhen
authors.initials: WZ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Zhu-Qing-Qing
authors.initials: ZQ
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.forename: Da-Peng
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Xiang
authors.forename: Shi-Shi
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Qiao
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Yu-Hua
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Li-Ping
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Na
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ji-Ye
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Xi-Sheng
authors.initials: XS
authors.lastname: Leng
mesh_terms: D015153:Blotting, Western; D002465:Cell Movement; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012190:Retroviridae / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D019098:Telomerase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000075024:rhoC GTP-Binding Protein
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; C509186:TERT protein, human; D019098:Telomerase; C579270:MMP9 protein, human; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9; C066690:RHOC protein, human; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins; D000075024:rhoC GTP-Binding Protein